The Laster SeeThru is lightweight (just under 2 oz.) wireless augmented reality (AR) eyewear. When you wear the SeeThru, information about your surroundings pops up without disrupting your normal field of vision.
The information you see changes depending on what you are seeing. For instance, if you’re looking at a mountain chain, information about each peak can pop up alongside the landscape as you take it in.
This kind of contextual information gives you a better awareness of your surroundings. There’s no looking up or down at tiny screens in the corner of your glasses with the SeeThru. Look the world straight in the eye, and the SeeThru will support you, seamlessly.

Augmented reality is a technology that we feel everyone should be able to experience. There are just so many exciting applications we have developed already—for biking, sailing, skiing, skateboarding, and flying—with many more possibilities in the future.

How it works?

The Laster SeeThru is the first genuine wireless augmented reality glasses device. Your smartphone acts as the SeeThru’s processor. The two devices connect wirelessly via Bluetooth.

You can download currently available apps onto your phone, or develop your own, and use the SeeThru to experience the world in a completely new way. Thanks to Laster’s patented core technology, you can see crystal-clear images and augmented reality information on the SeeThru’s lens screen. You can even answer phone calls with the SeeThru’s built-in Bluetooth kit, listen to music, display e-mails, text messages, contact data, and e-books and other texts.

The rechargeable battery can power the SeeThru for up to 6-8 hours.

We are developing several applications to accompany the first round of manufacturing that are designed to support users in a variety of outdoor activities.

Applications

AR GPS: You can use the street navigation app for car, bicycle, motorcycle, skateboard,
or pedestrian travel to get real time GPS information or any information
available on the Internet about what you’re seeing.

AR Navigation: With SeeThru, your natural vision is directly overlaid with digital context-sensitive
information. See information about the landscape in front of you in real time
and always know where you’re going. You no longer need to search the web for a
map of your surroundings, SeeThru ensures you’re always connected.

AR HUD: SeeThru lets you monitor airplane instrumentation and have a HUD with AR capabilities
showing you information about the terrain.

AR Sailing: Only
SeeThru lets you monitor critical instrumentation while sailing, such as boat
speed, wind speed, and direction.

AR Skateboarding: Find the nearest
hot spots to take your board. Only SeeThru will let you get real time directions
and location tips from your friends or others.

AR Paragliding: Only SeeThru lets you monitor critical flight parameters while paragliding,
such as air speed, ground speed, acceleration, while learning about the terrain
below.

Make your phone Hands-Free: Receive calls in hands-free mode while riding
a bike, or a motorcycle.

In addition to AR applications, the Laster See-Thru
can also let you:

See information on time, date, calender, pop-up messages,
news ;

See simple images and photos;

Browse the Internet;

See text messages, emails, contact information ;

Answer your phone hands-free;

Play music ;

Play games;

Read E-Books.

What
Makes SeeThru Unique?

1. Genuine Augmented Reality

The SeeThru offers unrivaled AR applications with a full patented optical see-through technology. Augmented reality contextual information is overlaid directly onto the object you're looking at without any image distortion, thanks to the SeeThru's transparent lens. Compare this with other AR devices, where contextual information is usually displayed on a separate intermediary screen after taking a separate video capture.

2. Wear and Play!

Just put on your SeeThru, and instantly see images in AR. No adjustments are required. Thanks to the SeeThru's considerably large eye box (>18mm), there’s no need to adjust the eyewear for different head size or shape, or inter-pupillary distance. Wear and play AR. It's as simple as that.

The optical technology embedded in the SeeThru is unique, and is recognized by professionals as offering the best image quality on the market. We’re talking full-color, sharp, smooth and bright (> 5200 nits). The SeeThru provides the highest definition augmented reality view in wireless and a 2-3x larger vision field than Google Glass and any other consumer glasses on the market today.

4. Ultra Low Power Consumption

With up to 8 hours of battery life, the SeeThru is the best way to experience AR all the day. We keep energy use low by using only Bluetooth to communicate with your smartphone to produce and transmit AR content. This architecture reduces not only the SeeThru’s energy use, but also its overall cost.

5. Privacy

To protect privacy, we decided not to include a camera or recording capabilities in the SeeThru (no spy glasses here!). Instead, the SeeThru’s AR capabilities and tracking are supported by 10 built-in location and GPS sensors.

6. Accuracy

To provide all of that AR contextual information, we have embedded the most accurate sensors on the market (3 gyroscopes, 3 accelerometers, 3 compasses), and use your Smartphone’s processor to determine your location and what you are seeing.

7. Integration & Flexibility

Manage your AR apps on your smartphone and take advantage of flexibility: since smartphone computing power increases regularly, the more performance level is available on your smartphone, the higher AR performance you experience, without any kind of upgrade on your SeeThru.

Laster Technologies is a start-up founded in 2005.
We pioneered a lot of the glass technology you hear about today.Our SeeThru glass patented technology has
been licensed by glass manufacturers, corporations, aerospace and the military,
so it’s time and condition-tested over several years.

Although our company started in the enterprise market,
our dream was always to democratize AR technology and create the next generation
of wearable computers with capabilities like voice recognition, artificial intelligence,
gesture command and even brain interface for a broad range of people at an
accessible price.

We were the first to introduce a consumer AR experience in 2009 with an app demonstrated at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Paris, where participants saw virtual satellites and spatial debris around the Earth through augmented reality. The experience was designed to increase awareness of the problem of space litter.

As we were developing what would become the SeeThru glass, we built and designed more than one hundred prototypes of AR eyewear devices to make sure we were offering consumers a superior product.

SeeThru Prototyping

Our years of experience and research are embedded in SeeThru today.

Our Dream Team includes:

Gerald Nacache, M.D., VP Marketing, brings 22 years of experience in the software and high tech industries, with a focus on sales, marketing and general management. For the last 12 years, he's concentrate on developing large-scale interactive 3D and augmented reality projects. He's a whiz at helping clients unlock the potential of innovative technologies, designing B2B and B2B2C solutions, managing customer-facing digital initiatives, and developing software applications for all industries, including CPG, architecture & construction, medical, entertainment and education markets. Gerald joined Laster Technologies in 2010 and is in charge of Sales & Marketing. He is an engineer by training and earned a Master’s Degree in computer science, software and artificial intelligence.

Zile Liu, M.D., co-founder, is an engineer specialized in optronics and optical design (University of Paris Sud, Orsay, France). Before Laster Technologies, Zile worked in R&D as an optical design engineer for the optical instrumentation, robotics and telecoms sectors, both for large companies and start-up ventures. He has specialized in HUD and HMDs (Head Up Dispays & Head Mounted Displays) for over 10 years. Author of "Visualization Systems for Virtual and Augmented Reality," published by Les Techniques de l’Ingénieur, Zile has received multiple awards from the French Ministry of Research, IET, and IEEE for his innovative work in Augmented Reality glass technology. Zile has authored and co-authored 23 patents in optics and optomechanics.

Stephane Denoual, M.D., an engineer specialized in computer vision and software development, has 15 years experience in the industry. Before joining Laster in 2007 as our VP of Software, Stephane worked in the robotics and in automotive sectors, where he, using vision detection, developed robotized quality control and manufacturing processes. At Laster, his team develops all of the software for our AR apps and SDKs.

Benoit Froissard, Ph.D., is an engineer specialized in optics and machine vision. Benoit joined Laster in 2009 as our specialist in head-mounted display optics and imaging devices. Previously, he worked in the ophthalmic industry. Benoit uses his know-how in optical design and in physiological optics to make sure you stay comfortable and safe when using our devices.

Join us!

The Laster team is composed of leading, creative engineers, researchers, and technicians specializing in optics, optomechanics and computer vision.

Our mission is to deliver the best AR products in the world. We’re also committed to designing products and conducting business with a strong social and environmental consciousness.

LASTER R&D Team

The SeeThru combines more than eight years of expertise, sweat, commitment and passion, all to bring consumers a top-of-the-line, yet easy-to-use and affordable AR product that lets you see more of the world.

With your support, we can bring the SeeThru into the consumer market. Our glasses are fully designed and we have a working prototype. We’re ready to enter into production. Your contribution will help fund:

Production tooling (optics, plastic molds, PCB production)

Large component orders

Electronic & safety certification (CE, FCC, FAA)

Hiring people to manufacture and produce the SeeThru

Hiring people to develop news AR apps

Delivery logistics

Our production timeline is shown below :

The electronics & safety certification process will take about 4 weeks, and will be conducted in Europe, the US and China.

After certification, we will produce the manufacturing tools (optics molds, plastics molds, PCB, etc.) and make large component orders to obtain best prices for mass production. This phase will last between 4 to 6 weeks, and begins in February.

We will launch production and assembly lines in March. After conducting quality control and regulatory compliance tests, first samples of the SeeThru will be shipped and delivered in April (first run).

The mainstream production will launch in May 2014 for delivery to all backers in June 2014.

You can get a great deal on Kickstarter by choosing one of the following pledges:

Pledge $10 or more

A virtual (French) kiss
for your kind support!

Pledge $25 or more

Your name memorialized on the wall of our factory!

Pledge $49 or more

Do you know Lisa ?
Lisa is our 3D mascot.You’ll be
able to download her on your computer via a AR app and play with her in
augmented reality.

Lisa AR app

Pledge $99 or more

Get
invited to an exclusive Laster party and experience SeeThru for yourself! There
will be music, open bar/food and full product demos !

Depending on the location and number of registered investors, we will organize several AR parties in San Francisco, New York and Paris, so you
can test SeeThru and its AR apps. You can also meet our developers and receive
a copy of the SeeThru SDK so you can develop new features and AR apps. Food and
drink aplenty, feed yourself and your curiosity.

If you are unable
to attend because the event is too far from your home or office, we’ll reimburse
your pledge if you inform us at least 15 days before the event.

We provide you with all the parts (optics, electronics, plastics) and instructions
to assemble your See-Thru. You can customize it as you wish and if you prefer to mount
it on a bicycle helmet you can do it (yourself ;-)).

Estimated delivery: April 2014

Add $60 USD to ship outside the US

Pledge $399 or more

1 Laster SeeThru Glass (First Run) + Laster SeeThru SDK. Receive the complete product from our
premier run and be among the first to experience real AR applications in style

Here, you’ll
receive the first series of SeeThru, assembled and tested by our production team.
You will be among the first to experience real AR apps. You can also develop your
own apps with our SDK.

You’ll receive the SeeThru Iron Edition assembled and tested by our production team. You’ll be able to experience real AR with all the apps listed in the project like AR GPS, AR Navigation, AR HUD, AR Skateboarding, and AR Sailing.

Estimated delivery: Jun 2014

Pledge $599 or more

1 Laster SeeThru with your choice of decorated frame.

SeeThru's frame decorated by our greatest artists

Stand out from the
crowd! Choose among several frame exclusive frame design options, and we will apply
the design to your SeeThru frame.

Not only will you be on the cutting edge of
AR technology, you’ll look good doing it.

Estimated delivery: June 2014

Pledge $849 or more

1 Laster SeeThru (SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION) signed by the Laster Team! Be the first to have the complete product in a first 100 limited
edition + SDK for developing your own apps.

You will receive a special
limited version of SeeThru from our first samples, signed by all the members of
the Laster Team!

Estimated delivery: April 2014

Add $60 USD to ship outside the US

Pledge $4,200 or more

1 Laster SeeThru (LIMITED PROTOTYPE EDITION) + Laster SeeThru
SDK for developing your own apps. Be the very first to have the complete product
in a very limited edition + SDK for developing your own apps.

By making this pledge,
you will receive the fully-functional prototype edition of SeeThru! Be among
the first to test and experience our SeeThru!

Estimated delivery: March 2014

Add $60 USD to ship outside the US

Pledge $9,500 or more

1 Laster SeeThru (CUSTOMIZED EDITION) + a specific customized app for you
developed by our team.

This
is the ultimate 3D augmented reality glass experience! You will not only receive
a SeeThru with our standard AR apps, you will be able to have our team develop
a custom app specifically for you. You’ll meet our team and explain your app requirements. We will
study the feasibility of your app and develop it for you.

If
for some reason we cannot meet your specific requirements, but we can get
pretty close, we will work with you to make sure you are satisfied with an
alternative solution.

If it’s not
technically feasible to meet your requirements, or if you are not happy with
the alternative, you will receive a full refund.

Estimated delivery: Jun 2014

Add $60 USD to ship outside the US

Risks and challenges

Delayed shipment — Developing a product is a complex combination of engineering tasks, working within a manufacturer's capacity, coordinating the availability of parts, and making sure they get delivered on time to the manufacturer. We've solved the difficult engineering problems (which we've demonstrated publicly with our prototypes) and our team is already familiar with overseas manufacturing, so the risk of delay is minimal.

Delay due to end-of-life parts or single source parts becoming suddenly unavailable — When possible, we will opt to have multiple vendors supplying parts so substitutions can be made with minimal impact to the design cycle.

Delay due to world issues — Natural disasters, fires at factories, or governmental policies can occasionally cause delays in manufacturing and logistics. If any of these should occur, we will communicate with you throughout the entire process so nothing will come as a surprise.

Laster SeeThru offers genuine augmented reality which is not available with Google Glass.
With the Laster SeeThru, augmented reality contextual information is directly overlaid on the object you are looking at. Images and information come into your natural field of view.
You can’t do this with Google Glass because you have to look at the upper right corner of the glass to see any information.

The optical technology embedded in the SeeThru is unique and is recognized by professionals as offering the best image quality on the market. We’re talking full-color, sharp, smooth and bright (> 5200 nits). The Laster SeeThru also provides two times higher field of view (25° diag) and image definition (800x600 pixels) than Google Glass.

The power-consumption of the SeeThru and its autonomy is also superior to Google Glass. It is 6 to 8 hours per battery charge cycle compared to 1 or 2 hours for Google Glass.

Another advantage of the SeeThru is an architecture that automatically leverages any improvement in the smartphone CPU. Smartphone computing power typically increases every 6 months, so you can regularly experience higher AR performance without purchasing a new SeeThru.

Finally, the SeeThru has a considerably large eye box (>18mm) compared to Google Glass (about 5 mm). There’s no need to adjust the SeeThru for different head size, inter-pupillary distance, or head morphology. You wear the See-Thru and you get the images in AR right away. No adjustments are required.

The SeeThru is delivered with the basic features (making calls, listening to music, displaying e-mails, text messages, the ability to browse contact data or display other text, images or pictures) in April.

A first set of AR apps, AR GPS and AR Navigation, will be provided in June 2014.

A second set of AR apps, including AR HUD, AR Sailing, AR Skateboarding and AR Paragliding, will be delivered at the end of 2014.

Pledge $599 or more

3 backers
Limited (997 left of 1000)

1 Laster SeeThru with your choice of decorated frame.

Stand out from the crowd! Choose among several frame exclusive frame design options, and we will apply the design to your SeeThru frame. Not only will you be on the cutting edge of AR technology, you’ll look good doing it.

Estimated delivery:Jun 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $849 or more

3 backers
Limited (97 left of 100)

1 Laster SeeThru (SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION) signed by the Laster Team! Be the first to have the complete product in a first 100 limited edition + SDK for developing your own apps.

Estimated delivery:Apr 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $4,200 or more

2 backers
Limited (48 left of 50)

1 Laster SeeThru (LIMITED PROTOTYPE EDITION) + Laster SeeThru SDK for developing your own apps. Be the very first to have the complete product in a very limited edition + SDK for developing your own apps.

Estimated delivery:Mar 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $9,500 or more

2 backers
Limited (1 left of 3)

1 Laster SeeThru (CUSTOMIZED EDITION) + a specific customized app for you developed by our team.

Estimated delivery:Jun 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

Funding period

Jan 15, 2014 - Mar 16, 2014
(60 days)

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